Mechanism for imparting rectilinear



Oct. 20, 1942. PARSONS Re. 22,206

MECHANISM FOR IMPARTING RECTILINEAR RECIPROCATING MOVEMENT TO MEMBERS SUCH AS VEHICLE WINDOWS Original Filed Sept. 4, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 31-110mm dob/2 5. Farm/75 Chtomumg Oct. 20, 1942. J. B. PARSONS Re. 22,206

MECHANISM FOR IMPARTING RECTILINEAR RECIPROCATING MOVEMENT TO MEMBERS SUCH AS VEHICLE WINDOWS Original Filed Sept. 4, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 26 x Z4, /6

gnaw Mom music... 20, 1942 Re. 22,26t

MECHANISM FOR IMPABTING RECTILINEAR RECIPROCA'I'ING MOVEMENT TO MEM- BERS SUCH AS VEHICLE WINDOWS John B. Parsons, Toledo, Ohio Original No. 2,287,269, dated June 23, 1942, Serial No. 355,350, September 4, 1940. Application for reissue August 22, 1942. Serial No. 455,799

3 Claims.

This invention relates to rectilinearly movable members but more particularly to mechanism for imparting rectilinear movement to such members, such, for example, as a vehicle window which is rectilinearly slid or reciprocated between open and closed positions.

An object is to produce a new and improved mechanism of the above character which embodies a coil spring arranged to resist the movement of the member in one direction and assist in the movement in the opposite direction, the parts being so constructed and arranged that the spring exerts a substantially uniform force or pull to the rectilinearly movable member when the latter is moved in a direction to tension the spring.

Another object is to produce a new and improved window regulator mechanism embodying a contractile spring and in which the parts are so constructed and arranged that during the tensiohing or stretching oi the spring, a substantial- 1y uniform force is exerted against the window to move it in the opposite direction.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear and for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, an embodiment of the invention is shown on the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of an automobile door, parts being broken away to illustrate the regulator mechanism for moving the window glass to and from closed position;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional elevation on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure3 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 3-3 Figure 1; and

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are diagrammatic views showing the position assumed by the parts when the window is in its fully raised position, its intermediate position, and its fully lowered position respectively.

Referring to the drawings, a U-shaped channel Ii embraces the lower edge oi the automobile window glass l0, and vertically disposed channel strips 12 provide guides for the side edges of said window glass ID. A pair of retainers i3 having longitudinally elongate slots ll therein, said slots each having an enlarged end portion ii for assembly purposes, are fixed to and depend from the channel I I.

The window glass It is raised and lowered by a window regulator mechanism 34 which includes a pair of crossed arms 16 and H. An end of each of the arms i6 and I1 is slidably mounted by means of studs it engaging in the slots ll of the retainers it. The arm i6 is pivotally fixed at its other end by bolt means l9 attached to a stationary bracket 20 which may be mounted on the panel 2|. The arm I5 has an enlarged centralportion 22 provided with a slot 23 and a pin 24 forms a pivotal connection between the arms I6 and I1. Mounted on the opposite end of the arm I1 is a grooved roller 25 which rides in a horizontal track 26a in a bracket 28 and is retained from upward movements by a horizontal out-turned flange 21. Both arms i8 and ii are ofl-set near their center, as shown at 28 and 29, and the arm i1 extends through the arcuate slot 23, all as indicated on Figure 3.

In this instance the cross arm regulator is actuated by a hydraulic device which includes a cylinder 30 having a piston (not shown) and piston rod 3i which in turn is pivoted to the arm l6 intermediate the pivot l9 and pin 24. It is not .essential to the invention that hydraulic means be used because any suitable means such as a crank handle may be employed for actuating the regulator, as will be readily understood. The piston rod is moved in one direction or the other by liquid which is forced into or from the cylinder 30 through a tube 3la by any suitable means.

A helical contractile spring 32 is connected at one end by a link 33 which is pivoted at to arm il substantially equidistantly between the roller 25 and pin 24. The other end of the spring 32 is secured by a tapered socket fastener 33 to enable the spring to change position as the cross arm regulator 34 moves between its raised and lowered positions. The spring inclines in the same general direction as arm l6 when the regulator is in its raised position so that said spring makes an acute angle with a line defining the direction of the rectilinear reciprocatory movement of the window. I

It is to be understood that upon upward move ment of the piston rod 3| the cross arm regu lator 3k operatesto raise the window, the coil spring 32 being thereby extended. Upon down ward movement of the piston rod 3|, the regulator 34 causes the window to move downwardly or toward its fully open position as indicated by dotted lines on Figure 1'. In such movement the coil spring 32 assists, as will be readily apparent.

Ordinarily it will be recognized that a contractile spring as it is gradually extended such as by raising of the window in the present case, the tension gradually increases, so that the more the spring is stretched, the more tension or resistance is imparted to the closing or upward movement of the window. In accordance with this invention, the force exerted by the spring 32 when in any of its various positions is approximately the same. For example, with a coil spring which, when fully stretched or extended,

exerts a force of 135 pounds, it has been emplrically established that with the arrangement shown, a force of 26 pounds will be exerted when the window is in its lowermost position, 32 pounds in its central position, and 28 pounds in its uppermost position. Although these forces are not entirely uniform, they so closely approach uniformity as greatly to enhance the ease by which the window may be actuated.

It is difficult accurately to explain exactly why the above mechanism afiords approximately uniform spring pressures, but one explanation is as follows:

As the window moves between its'open and closed positions, the effective force exerted by the spring on the window remains approximately uniform because of the particular form and mounting of the cross armregulator. Perhaps the most essential single feature in the construction is the roller 25 mounted at the end of arm l1 and riding along the track 260.. The component of the spring force which acts on the roller is regulated by the particular .position thereof, and is of such magnitude in the various positions of the roller that the eflective force exerted by the spring on the window is approximately uniform.

When the window is closed the regulator is arranged 'as shown in Figure 4, the spring being in its most extended position and, therefore, a large p rt or the force exerted by the spring must be utilized at a point where it will not be effective in lowering the window so that the ellective force exerted by the spring on the window will be nearly the same as it is in the lowered window position. As the window II is lowered by the combined action 01' its own weight, the piston rod 3| and the spring 32, the roller is forced outwardly by the scissors-like arms.

The spring is so'disposed that as the window moves between its fully closed and intermediate positions, one component or the total force exerted by the spring acts to oppose this outward movement or the roller 25 so that a smaller part of the force exerted by the spring will act effectively on the window than at the lower window positions. After passing through its interme diate' position, as shown in Figure 5, the roller moves inwardly, or to the right or th figure, and the spring 32 now has a component of its force helping to move the roller in that direction.

From Figure 6 it is clear that in these lower positions the sprin force which is gradually becoming weaker, is exerted more nearly in a direction longitudinally of the arm I! which carries the roller, and, therefore, a greater part of the force exerted by the spring acts effectively greater part of 'the force which it exerts must act upon the window than in the raised position so that the effective force remains approximately uniform.

It should be noticed that the portion of the 7 arm l1 between the pivot 24 and the stud I8 upon the window to lower it than in the more fully raised window positions.

Since the effective force of the spring on the window is transmitted to the window through the studs II, a force acting directly along the arm I! when the arms are disposed at a ninety degree angle with respect to each other, will be the most effective on the window. This force will exert the greatest torque tending to rotate the arm l6 about its pivot I! and lower the window. A comparison of Figures 4, 5 and 6 shows that this condition is approached most nearly when the window is in lowered position. The component of the spring forc acting longitudinally may be omitted without affecting the operation of the regulator in performing its function of keeping the effective force exerted by the spring on the window approximately uniform. The purpose or this part of the arm I1 is to prevent binding 01' the window against the channels l2 as it moves between its open and closed positions.

It is essential in order for the effective force exerted on the window to remain approximately a uniform, that the lower attachment of the spring be disposed approximately as shown in Figure 1. If this attachment 33 were moved quite substantially to the left of the position shown, the direction of the force exerted by the spring would approach a nearly longitudinal direction with the arm I! and a large part of the force would be effectiv on the window in its raised position. When the window is open, the force-of the spring is directed at a much greater angle with arm I! than before and, therefore, a much smaller part of the force exerted by the now contracted spring will be effective on the window. The effective force would vary from a large on at the closed position to a much smaller force at the open window position. 'Movement of the spring attachment to th right of the position produces a greatly varying force just the reverse of that already described. The spring will act nearly longitudinally relativ to the arm II in the lowered window position so that the eifective force will vary from small to large as th window moves from its open'to its closed position.

It is to be understood that numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and operation may be eflfected without departing from the spiritof the invention especially as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1 Means for eflecting movement of a member in opposite directions, composed of two arms pivotally connected to have scissor-like movement, means to connect an end portion of one or said arms to the member to actuate the latter, means to pivotally connect the opposite end portion of said arm to a relatively fixed point, means connected to said opposite end portion of said arm to actuat 'same and thereby the member, means to mount the end portion 01' the other arm which lies adjacent to the said opposite end portion 01' the first named arm for sliding and pivotal movement, a spring device connected at one end to said other arm at a point between the pivotal point of the arms and the said end of said other arm, and depending therefrom, and means to connect the opposite end of the spring device to a relatively fixed point whereby said spring deber in opposite directions in accordance with claim 1, wherein the spring device includes a link pivoted at one end to said other arm and a coil spring connected to the opposite end of the link.

3. Means for effecting movement of a member in opposite directions, composed of two arms pivotally connected to have scissors-like movement, means to connect an end portion 01' One of said arms to the member to actuate the latter, means to pivotally connect the oppositeend portion of said arm to a relatively fixed point, means connected to said opposite end portion of said arm to actuate same and thereby the member, means to mount the end portion of the other arm which lies adjacent to the said opposite end portion of the first named arm for pivotal movement and also movement toward and away from said on!- site end portion of the first named arm, a helical coil spring connected at one end to said other arm at a point between the pivotal point or the arms and the said end of said other arm, and depending therefrom, and means to connect the opposite end of the helical spring to a relatively fixed point whereby said helical spring lies in a plane at an acute angle to a vertical line drawn through the pivot 01 the arms in all positions thereof.

JOHN B. PARSONS. 

